Geraint Thomas’s attack on the Poggio was powerful, exciting and very nearly stuck. He dropped BMC’s Daniel Oss immediately and there was definitely a brief period as his advantage grew that the peloton must have been wondering whether they’d be able to reel in the Welshman.

As it was, Luca Paolini single-handedly took on the duty of bringing him back with nobody else willing to contribute to the chase. Had the Italian not done so, or even if he’d waited a little longer, it would have been a thrilling chase down onto the Via Roma. Last year Luca Paolini deserved a huge amount of credit for helping his team leader Alexander Kristoff claim victory, and he almost pulled off an encore yesterday afternoon.

But while we’re on the subject of Thomas, could this be the year he finally takes a monument? Yesterday’s performance was the ride of a man who has more than enough confidence in his own ability to force the issue even against such a top class field, and last year’s performances show he doesn’t need a huge amount more to put him on the podium. Third at E3 Harelbeke, eighth in Flanders and seventh at Roubaix are the performances of a man who just needs that extra bit of fortune – and there’s no reason to believe that this year can’t be his.

Having said that, of course, the figure looming over the head of both Thomas and team mate Ian Stannard – whose crash on the Cipressa has not led to any long-term damage – is that of Sir Bradley Wiggins. With the 2013 Tour winner having set his sights on winning Paris-Roubaix, that might limit both his younger charges chances of riding for themselves there. But Roubaix is unpredictable, and it’ll only work in Sky’s favour having multiple riders to count on. It did wonders for Omega Pharma-Quickstep last year.